Question about air cooled engines

Ashbane wrote:

After buying my 76 KZ750 and riding it the 100 miles home, my brother who rode with me on his bike said I needed to shut the engine off immediately after coming off the highway speed and let it cool so I don't burn out the engine. We took a break about halfway through and just sat and chatted with the engines off because he said we had to.

This true?

Baloney. I have a 1979 KZ750. I rode it 135 miles to sacramento once in steaming hot weather (100+) and rode it the 135 miles home the same night.

Lol->Loco!

Ok thanks! Finally got the bike running fairly decent and wanted to keep it that way as long as I can.

:ohmy:
Ashbane
If you're that worried about, which really is BS sir, Kendall and Valvoline used to make oil just for air cooled engines....Played with Kaws for about 30 yrs and never had a problem with heat. Even my street bike in Ca (Hooker Headers old Show Bike) which was a 1260cc/12:1 pistons never over heated. And believe me, I don't ride slow!! LOL
The OTHER cag on here will testify to that. Another option to calm your nerves would be install an oil cooler. Used to Lockhart was the top of the heap!


Cag II:woohoo:

Locozuna wrote:

We usually find the nearest Hockey Rink. There is usually a pile of shaved ice the Zamboni's dump outside. Then we pack our bikes in it for a while till they stop clicking.....

That is so funny!!!!!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

I always heard chrome does a good job of keeping heat out or in the case of a thermos keeping heat in. I have heard that it does have a reflective quality that actually does interfere with heat transference. Makes sense to me that anything that shiny would have two sides and while it will keep heat out it would hinder heat getting out by reflecting it back into the metal. For show bikes or garage queens I think chrome engines are pretty cool but I like a nice clean metal look to an engine. Where is a metal specialist when ya need one? :huh: :dry:

nickel and chromium have about a fourth the heat conductivity of copper (and less then iron). So yes "chrome" is a good insulator and the shine doesn't help. A casted porous aluminum cylinder (our bikes) is a good heat sink but if i was worried about over heating i would put an external cooler and make a PVC cover for the cooler days you go riding

edit: the low heat conductivity is why they use nickel and chromium in "super alloys".... think jet engine nozzles on the back of fighter planes and lower sections of the shuttle's hull (i'm referring to the framing that holds the tiles).